THIS RESIDENCY IS VERY POPULAR IN THE US – Limited Spaces Available.
June 15 – 21, 2025
We are pleased to offer the second annual 6-day workshop with Dr. George Kordis at the Institute of Sacred Arts of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary, in Yonkers, New York.
Good for both beginners or those with more experience, Dr. Kordis will teach his own artistic approach through in-depth demonstrations and detailed exercises in the art, expression and language of the icon using the principles and rhythm of the Byzantine system as a strong foundation for creating beautiful Christian icons. With the opportunity to discuss in-depth the creative process and techniques covering both drawing and painting, this workshop is presented as a valuable time to enter into making your own icon with Dr. Kordis’s oversight.
Along with the daily hands-on creative sessions, there will be short lectures and other visual inspiration and insight addressing iconography, creativity, icon history, theology and always good conversation and friendship.
Hosted on the beautiful campus of St. Vladimir’s seminary in Yonkers, New York, the location provides the perfect atmosphere to focus on a week-long learning experience. You can read more about the Institute of Sacred Arts and their other initiatives and creative programs here.
AGENDA
The residency will meet at 1pm first day and have a shortened afternoon session going until 5pm. During the week, instruction will be held from 9am to 4pm daily for the rest of the residency with daily lunch from noon to 1pm. Saturday the 21st will mark the end of the workshop, with only a morning session that day ending at noon.
An evening discussion event with Dr. Kordis and Peter Bouteneff, the Director of the Institute of Sacred Arts, will be presented on one of the nights.
Meals and Food
Meals will be provided on-campus for an additional cost. The meal service will begin on the first day of Sunday, June 15th with dinner, and the final meal on Saturday, June 21st will be lunch that day.
MEAL PLAN: While at St. Vlad’s students can choose to have only lunch or both lunch and dinner. Lunches only: $175, Both Lunch and Dinner: $265.
The above options will be available once registration officially opens.
Materials
An icon board and pigments are provided. Each student will only need to bring their own brushes – a list of recommendations will be sent to participants.
Please scroll down for information regarding lodging and travel — Students will need to secure their lodging independently.
Tuition: $900
TO REGISTER:
Please be reminded this opportunity is currently only available to students in the Certificate Program who should follow the red registration button at the top of the page.
To be added to the waitlist, please fill out this FORM (you will not receive follow-up until mid-January when the residency will be opened up to other students based on availability).
Location
St Vladimir’s Seminary is located at 575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707.
Hotel and Lodging Information
We will have several blocks of rooms reserved at the local Hampton Inn & Suites and at the SpringHill Marriott, with a discounted rate of $149 per night for our Residency participants (slightly higher at SpringHill Suites). The Hampton Inn and SpringHill Suites will also provide shuttle service to and from the Seminary for those needing transportation. It is not necessary to rent a car. Note that Airbnb options are very limited in the area. Students can also consider reverse commuting from Manhattan each day by commuter rail. A van transport to and from SpringHill Suites will be made available daily to and from St. Vlad’s for students needing it (beginning on Monday, June 16th and ending on Saturday, June 21st).
- Hampton Inn & Suites (special rate link will be available in Spring 2025)
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott (special rate link will be available in Spring 2025)*
- Ramada by Wyndham
- Royal Regency
- Sheraton
- Courtyard by Marriott
GETTING THERE
Airport Information
- Westchester County Airport
- LaGuardia Airport
- John F. Kennedy International Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport
The two most convenient airports to St Vladimir’s Seminary are LaGuardia (LGA) and Westchester County (HPN). An app-based car service (like Uber or Lyft) from LaGuardia to the Seminary usually costs $40-$70 for a one-way trip.
Some map and GPS programs may prefer “Tuckahoe” as the city name.
The Seminary can also be reached by train.
TRAIN — Amtrack info:
https://www.amtrak.com/stations/yny
(best reached through Penn Station, NY connectors)
https://www.amtrak.com/ethan-allen-express-train
We hope to have you join us for one of the few opportunities to study with George Kordis in the United States!
Please email Keri at info.writingthelight@gmail.com if you have any further questions.
Thank you!